"When Vampire Survivors won a BAFTA for Game of the Year back in 2023, it was a handful of Galante's colleagues at Poncle who took to the stage to accept it. At convention panels, Galante is known for using screens and decoys rather than addressing the audience himself. In the NoClip documentary chronicling the success of Vampire Survivors, Galante opted to have a Muppets-esque puppet resembling the game's iconic vampire mascot made so he wouldn't have to appear on camera himself."
"Several Poncle devs I spoke to recounted, with sheer amusement, how they loved playing up Galante's mysterious persona. When fans asked if Galante was around, they'd sometimes remark, "He could be. He could be me." Matteo Sapio, the chief strategy officer at Poncle, laughed as he told me, "It's all very funny because honestly, yes, he is brilliant, but he's also a very kind and normal guy. He just really values his privacy.""
"Though he speaks calmly and thoughtfully, it is not without immense passion for his work, the community it has fostered, and video games as a whole. After playing around 30 minutes of Poncle's new game, Vampire Crawlers, I proceeded to spend nearly an hour talking to Galante about his work on the game, what it's been like leaving his solo-dev days behind, and, most importantly, when we'll be able to play Vampire Crawlers from the comfort of our homes."
Luca Galante often avoids public appearances and relies on colleagues, screens, decoys, and a Muppets-style puppet to represent him at events. Vampire Survivors' BAFTA was accepted by Poncle colleagues rather than Galante. Poncle team members humorously foster Galante's mysterious persona while noting his kindness and brilliance alongside a strong desire for privacy. Galante engages deeply with games and the community, speaking calmly yet passionately about his work. Time spent with him included playing Vampire Survivors and extended conversation about Vampire Crawlers, his transition from solo development to working at Poncle, and plans for the new game's release.
Read at GameSpot
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